Construction of ships



W. ALDERSON.

CONSTRUCTION OF SHHS.

APPLICATION FILED sET. 4. I918.

Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

v Inventor v (241mm /MW: @461 Allorncg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CONSTRUCTION OF snrrs.

.Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

Application filed September 4, 1918. Serial No. 252,643.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lViLLIAM Annnnson, a subject of the British Empire, residing at 24 \Vard street, Kimberley, Cape Province,

Union of South Africa, have invented new and useful Improvements in the Construction of Ships, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is designed to prevent ships from being sunk by torpedoes, floating mines, collisions and in certain circumstances by shell'lire.

The invention is illustrated diagrammatically in the accompanying drawing in which 1 Figure 1 shows a plan view of a ships hull,

Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section of the same, and

Fig. 3 shows a transverse section on the line A-B of Fig. 1.

The invention comprises the construction within the vessel of an inner shell divided by a number of transverse partitions into a series of separate water-tight compartments. Each compartment forms an independent inclosed space between the inner and outer plating of the ship, extending perpendicularly around both sides in the interior of the vessel to above the water-line.

The number of compartments may be more or less according to requirements, but for the purpose of defending the vessel against torpedo attack, about thirty such compartments for a ship 600 feet long would be the normal proportion. The distance between the inner and outer plating (that is to say the width of the protective compartment) should be from 8 feet more or less. If desired, the compartment can be adapted in the well known manner for carrying freight, especially coal, and be provided with the necessary appliances for charging or discharging the same.

Referring in detail to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, a indicates the inner shell or skin of the vessel and b the outer plating.

Although in the foregoing mention has been made of coal as a suitable material for filling the protected compartments, they may obviously be charged with any suitable material, especially articles of a resilient nature, which Wlll not suffer great injury if the outer plating is damaged and the compartment fills with water.

I claim:

1. The improved construction of doubleskinned vessels exposed to collision, mines or torpedoes, characterized by having between the outer and the inner skin of the vessel a plurality of water-ti ht divisions, each division passing vertical ly downward from above the water-line on one side of the vessel to above the water-line on the other side of the vessel, and forming a plurality of water-tight chambers each continuous around the inner skin of the vessel.

2. A double-hulled vessel, a plurality of perpendicular parallel water-tight divisions between the inner and the outer hull, said divisions forming compartments about 20 feet in width and about 8 feet in depth between the hulls, and passing around the inner hull of the ship from each side, from above the water line on one side to above the water line on the other, and capableof containin coal or other freight, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

W. ALDERSON.

Witnesses H. W. ADAMs, A. W. Jones. 

